Category: These Are Those Things

That inspire, that I like, and that I hope you feel the same about

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New Sundance Trailer

We’ve been trying to keep track of what films are really ready for this new version of Sundance (you know, the one that no longer is a sales market).  Variety has The Greatest up (hat tip: Filmmaker):

But my favorite trailer is John Water’s advice for Obama.  Check it out over at TheseAreThoseThings.
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Why I Love John Waters

I am working on my list of heroes, and John Waters is on it.  I read his book Shock Value before I actually saw any of his films.  It opened up my mind as to what I might be able to do in film.  When I moved to New York, I pursued a job at New Line Cinema.  This was before Nightmare On Elm Street; I knew them as the home of Pink Flamingos.  I got a gig inspecting their 16mm. prints and just getting to share an elevator with John and witness that mustache live gave me enough hope to get through the next year.

I have now got to produce for him and he’s only grown in stature for me.  Here is a guy who thought he’d end up in jail and instead has a life most can only dream of.  He’s got seven great careers: filmmaker; artist; broadway show creator; actor; comedian/lecturer; music compiler; and author.  The guy is a cultural authority.  And okay, so filmmaker is not such a great career, but it’s an excellent hobby!
I hope John keeps making movies for years to come.  Until we get the next one financed though, lucky for all of us, he keeps feeding us choice bits.
Here he is on why John loves Christmas.
And here is John’s advice for Obama.
What Frightens John Waters
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I Never Want My Cable Back

It’s been about five years now since I swore off cable TV.  It all felt like the same with one or two distinctions.  I have always preferred my news in print form, and of course the WWW provides the opportunity to always find what I missed.

I have to admit that I expected there to be much more interesting programing produced for the web than I have found.  Maybe I am not looking hard enough.  I would appreciate some more tips.
I did have the pleasure of finding Doctor Steel though.  He is a wonderful whack job, blending Pee Wee Herman with a fascist mad scientist in bondage gear vibe.  He’s got quite a few episodes up on YouTube now and I recommend checking them out when you’ve decided you have some time to kill.  They are nice work all around: great performance, art direction, archive sourcing, and overall  directing.
This is episode 2 to give you a taste:

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What I Did This Year

My enthusiasm and commitment for the Web increased a great deal this year.  I started a whole bunch of blogs, among other things.  Where did that enthusiasm come from?  I think this video captures a lot of it.

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Windsor McCay


Over at Bowl Of Noses, I’ve posted about one of my true heroes, someone whose imagination has driven mine, whose art has inspired me and driven me, whose life I wonder about: the man who gave us the comic strip, moving pictures, and true hybrid works, Windsor McCay.  Little Nemo In Slumberland and Dreams Of A Rarebit Fiend are must haves, true Essential Reading.  

I just had the pleasure of stumbling across a study he did, a work in progress.  CENTAURS are the early stages for a film we will never get to see.  But we do get to see his strong line drawing and the personality he injected into each character while delving into art in the age of mechanical reproduction.  The joy the young centaur — they would truly be “kids”, right? — projects at the end of the piece speaks to what could have been.
The curse that the only Little Nemo we have to enjoy as a completed animated film is the one we have is a true misfortune.
Enjoy this instead.
Also be sure to check out Meeting McCay, hailing from Windsor’s home town in Michigan, Spring Lake, and chock full of good stuff on the man, his art, and his influence.
I recommend you buy the books, but you can enjoy an excellent taste of Nemo over at the Comic Strip Library.
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Timesculpture

Not having cable or being a television watcher, I miss out on some culture, some artistry, some trends. I am glad there are ways to make up for that now. Maybe it’s an odd thing to select to watch advertisements. But when someone reorders the world into new art, I want to see it. I also want it explained. I was glad to find this out there too:

And thanks to The NYTimes YEAR IN IDEAS for tipping me to this too.

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Playing For Change

“Playing For Change” combines three of my fave things in one nice package.

I have always wanted to see the definitive busker documentary.  Every time I encounter one in a subway station, my spirits are lifted.  I would time my trips and pick my destinations if I knew when I could find who performing where.  It’s a good day when I encounter two good acts in the same day. Every once and awhile I wonder what’s stopping this doc from getting made.

Definitely one of the most watched and loved videos of the year was “Where The Hell Is Matt?“.  Beyond the silly dancing and great locations, I like the inherent message that the “Where The Hell Is Matt?” structure gives in terms of a one world connectivity.
“Stand By Me” has always been one of my favorite songs.  For me it was first delivered by John Lennon on his “Rock & Roll” album and that led me to Ben E. King’s sweet sweet voice.  If I wasn’t thankful enough for John already, that upped the ante.  
This trinity joins together in “Playing For Change”.  I really enjoy the voices as well as the video as much as the song here.
The feature doc is much more than this song and features a great number of performers throughout the world.  I look forward to seeing it.  You can learn more about it on the link at the top of this entry.